Page 16 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

A female voice this time.

Blast his luck.

Maythra and Savrah appeared in the doorway. Two of the human women of Rove Wood Clan.

And his precious mate nearly crumbled.

“Oh my god,” Miranda breathed, stepping toward them. “You . . . you’re . . .”

“What is going on here?” Maythra demanded, her sharp steel eyes skewering Govek. Her gray hair was tight in a neat bun and her attire was equally well kept. She was one of the oldest in the clan. Wise and powerful and immensely disapproving of Govek.

She’d been one of his mother’s closest friends and despised him for worthy reasons.

Savrah lingered behind her, her large brown eyes unsettling Govek. She’d always been wary of him, more so than most of the women, but she also watched him rather than averting her gaze and scurrying away like the others.

Govek tensed as Miranda took another quick step forward. His stomach dropped and his blood went cold.

“Come here, dear,” Maythra said, waving Miranda forward.

And his precious woman rushed into her arms.

Miranda collapsed against the human. Maythra’s larger frame dwarfed her smaller one. The elder woman hugged her tight and Govek’s claws dug deep into his palms, stinging brutally.

“Where are the other women, Govek? You were supposed to bring five from Estwill. What have you done with them?” Maythra demanded, even as she patted and soothed Miranda’s back.

Govek could not find his words. Fades be fucked. This was the worst possible scenario. His eyes fixed on Miranda’s trembling form, wanting nothing more than to yank her back into his embrace and flee to the Rove Woods.

Where she would surely perish in the harsh winter elements. Fuck.

“You abandoned them, didn’t you?” Maythra gasped, her expression pale and horror-stricken.

“We will go to Chief Ergoth now,” Rogeth said, puffing his chest higher. “You will explain there, Govek.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right.” Maythra gently stroked Miranda’s hair. “And this woman will come with me.” Maythra tightened her hold.

Miranda tried to move out of Maythra’s grip. “Gosh, sorry. Uh?—”

“Let her go!” Fury burst in Govek’s gut. Rogeth instantly stepped between Govek and Miranda and Govek’s mind blistered with rage. Anger built in his chest like a tight fist. The Fades light grew menacing in his mind’s eye.

His magic was going to spiral. He couldn’t control it.

“All right! That’s enough. Let me go!”

Miranda pushed away from Maythra and came back to Govek’s side so quickly he could hardly process it. His whole body snapped as his fury was snuffed out, the light of the Fades dimmed away.

Miranda’s soft hands clasped around his, and he began to tremble. Working for calm, he tucked his claws in tighter to protect his precious woman from them.

He couldn’t hurt her. He had to gain control.

It was almost startling how easily that goal was met with Miranda at his side. The tingling force of his magic dimmed to make way for the thrum of Miranda’s imprint, pulsing sweetly at the center of his chest.

“Easy there, tough guy,” Miranda said softly, then she looked to the others. “I’m not from Estwill. Govek found me in the woods and saved me, brought me here.”

Rogeth had his eyes slightly averted and Savrah’s face was bright red.

“What did he do to your clothes?” Maythra asked.

Govek snapped to attention and forced Miranda’s cloak shut. Fuck, he’d forgotten she was wearing scraps. Her legs were bare, and the neckline of the shirt was mercilessly low since it was cut for his large frame. He should have given her his pants before they breached the edge of Rove Wood Clan.

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